American Opportunity Fellowship

The American Opportunity Fellowship (AOF) is an intensive semester-long fellowship from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute for about 25 participants. It is designed for advanced undergraduate students, early graduate or professional students, and recent graduates interested in economics, political economy, economic policy, and American policy history.

The program combines classroom instruction in classical liberal political economy and Reaganomics, mentorship by practitioners and scholars, networking with peers and alumni in Washington, DC, and practical exercises such as policy writing and professional formation. Fellows will learn how economic ideas become policy, how Washington works, and how research, business, lobbying, think tanks, journalism, and interest groups shape policymaking.

The 2026 fellowship runs during the fall 2026 semester with three in-person meetings: August 12-14, 2026 in Washington, DC; October 15-17, 2026 in Simi Valley, California; and January 7-9, 2027 in Washington, DC. Regular Zoom sessions are also part of the program, and fellows must attend all sessions and complete the assigned readings in advance.

Funding includes housing and meals, transportation for participants outside the Washington, DC area (flights or train), and a stipend for incidental expenses and ground transportation. Admission is highly selective.

Eligibility highlights: current undergraduates in sophomore year or later, students in the first two years of a relevant graduate or professional program, and recent graduates who earned a bachelor's degree in 2024 or later. Applications open May 1 and close June 23, 2026.